Abstract: The shank for a femur head prosthesis is provided with a cavity in the approximate region which is filled with a plastic or elastic filler. A covering is provided over the filler to avoid contact between the filler and the bone or the bone cement surrounding the shank. The covering reduces the area of contact between the bone the filler to a minimum and limits the "flow" of the filler under compressive loadings on the head of the prosthesis.

Abstract: This invention relates to a drill guide particularly useful for drilling an accurately located and oriented bore of limited depth into an orbital implant for purposes of fixating an orbital prosthesis. The drill guide comprises a cylindrical housing, the distal end of the housing defines a plurality of fixation pegs which are engagable with the orbital implant. An adaptor insert is placed on the nonrotating nose of a surgical drill which defines an outer diameter which is closely received by the drill guide housing. Features are provided to limit the depth of insertion of the adaptor insert. After placement of the drill guide on the orbital implant the surgical drill can be advanced until the physical stop is reached providing a limited depth bore which can be accurately located and oriented.

Abstract: A prosthetic nucleus for implantation in the disc space after removal of a damaged or degenerated nucleus is formed from a multiplicity of hydrogel beads having a water content of at least 30%. The beads are covered by a semi-permeable membrane. The membrane has porosity less than the size of the beads to thereby retain the beads therein but permit fluids to flow in and out of the prosthetic nucleus.

Abstract: In a method and apparatus for folding a resilient intraocular lens, the l is fixed on a support surface and then folded by means of two pressing members which are moved synchronously towards each other in such a way that the intraocular lens conforms on a slightly reduced scale to the interior of a tube member of a lens implantation instrument. The lens is then released from its support surface and pressed into the interior of the implantation instrument tube member.

Abstract: A lens, having an optical power surface, which may have multiple radii portions or aspherical portions as well as spherical portions, is molded in a coined mold. A pair of core pins, positioned within the mold cavity during the lens forming process, will produce a pair of haptic-mounting holes within the lens. As the lenses are subsequently tumbled to remove flash, indentations will form adjacent to the haptic-mounting holes. These indentations allow for tangential attachment of the haptic to the lens which, in turn, enables maximum flexibility without exceeding the width of the optic.

Abstract: The invention shows a patella prosthesis, which consists of an artificial slide member (2) made from polyethylene with sliding surface (3), with the slide member (2) being mounted on the rear of the patella (1) by means of an attachment. The sliding surface (3) consists of the sector of a polyethylene sphere, which comprises a metal grid (4) of an attachment member (9). The attachment member consists of a metal sandwich construction having a central support sheet and metal grids (4, 6) spot welded on both sides, with bevelled sheet metal flanges (7) for the primary attachment of the support sheet (5) protruding through recesses (8) in the metal grid (6) on the side of the patella.

Abstract: An artificial ligament for the spine is fixed by pedicle screws on two vertebrae of the spinal column and has first and second hollow eyelets, of general diabolo shape, each one including a concave seat intended to receive the head of the fixation screw; a body haivng a narrowed area; a convex hump complementing the concave seat and intended to be directed towards the vertebrae. The artificial ligament itself is made of a flexible textile material having a longitudinal primary winding arranged in figure eight formation between the narrowed areas of two successive eyelets and a transverse secondary winding arranged in contiguous spirals around the primary winding.

Abstract: An ostomy appliance is disclosed, which includes a front plate or pouch-holder intended to be fixed about an artificial opening in the body of a user by an adhesive pressure sensitive shoe, a belt or similar, as well as a pouch for collecting body fluids and/or waste adapted to be removably assembled with the pouch-holder by a nose of the pouch and which is provided for cooperating with an end-piece fast with the plate and which surrounds the stoma in its condition of use, the assembly of the pouch nose and the end-piece resulting from the clamping effect of a deformable member, further including a control mechanism associated with the pouch-holder and separate from the member, the latter being also associated with the pouch-holder and adapted to cooperate directly with the pouch nose having a shape and being dimensioned such that a sealed mechanical connection of the pouch nose and the end-piece is produced in response to actuation of the mechanism.

Abstract: An anterior spinal fixation device which provides an anterior lumbar and cervical fusion fixation system which has numerous advantages over existing anterior, posterior and lateral implant systems. Anterior (access from the patients stomach region) lumbar surgery allows the surgeon to remove the entire intervertebral disc, which is not possible during posterior or lateral surgery. Many interbody fusion operations require removal of disc material, insertion of new graft material and fusion of the adjoining vertebrae. This plate and screw fixation invention provides the ability to perform this function. The novelty of this invention includes an "H" shaped overall design allowing for multiple fusions, a bicortical fixation system which is achieved by inserting four screws at a 45 degree angle into two cortical surfaces. It also provides structural integrity by placing more friction on the screws which allows for increased pull out strength.

Abstract: An intraocular lens with an optic of a polymer material and a skirt of polymer material with a reinforcing element used in, about or on the periphery of the skirt of the intraocular lens. In one specific embodiment, a reinforcing element is positioned in the outer circumference of a flexible skirt which supports the optic. The skirt can be folded about the optic so that the lens can be inserted through a minimal incision. In another embodiment, the skirt can be rectangular. The outer loop can either attach to the optic or be integral to the edge of the optic. In an additional embodiment, the reinforcing element can be attached about the edge of the skirt.

Abstract: An intraocular lens system including a lens having a negative-powered section for use in combination with a positive-powered external lens system. The intraocular lens is preferably positioned in the posterior chamber of the eye and is configured so as to provide maximum separation between the intraocular lens and the external lens system, thereby achieving maximum magnification and field of view. Alternatively, the refracting powers of the lens system can be reversed, thus resulting in image demagnification.

Abstract: The heart valve prosthesis has a generally annular base that has an annular body and diametrically opposite chordal segments having generally parallel flat surfaces. Each chordal segment has a pair of spherical recesses opening through the flat surface, the spherical recesses having ears of a pair of leaflets pivotally extending therein for movement between valve open and closed positions. For improving blood flow characteristics, each chordal segment has an upstream conical surface that is tapered generally radially inwardly in a downstream direction and a downstream conical surface that is tapered generally radially inwardly in an upstream direction. The conical surfaces intersect the flat surfaces.

Abstract: A bi-leaflet heart valve having pivot ears comprising frusto-conical segments, located substantially at a diametral edge of leaflet occluders of the valve. Pivots on adjacent edges of both occluders share a common recess in an annular body of the valve.

Abstract: An orthopaedic device designed to replace an articulating surface in a joint is provided. The device has a relatively low stiffness factor and is capable of applying normal physiological load onto the underlying bone. A low stiffness factor is achieved by a relatively thin device made from materials that have a low bulk modulus of elasticity. The device is provided with curvature to minimize bending stress in the device so that the device has sufficient mechanical strength to prevent stress induced failure. A tibial component made in accordance with this invention is also provided.

Abstract: The invention relates to intraocular lenses coated with C.sub.12 -C.sub.36 alkyl groups that render the surface of the intraocular lens less prone to causing inflammation after implantation of the intraocular lens. The alkyl groups may be coated on the IOL by a centrifugal casting method, a solution deposition method (e.g., a covalent attachment method), or a plasma deposition method that minimizes fragmentation of the alkyl groups.

Abstract: A self-lubricating ocular prosthesis includes a solid rigid prosthetic eye body with a chamber in the body opening through an access passage through the posterior surface of the body closed with a releasable cap having an outside face conforming to the posterior surface of the body which abuts the orbital cavity. The cap is of a semi-rigid or flexible polymeric resin to retain a fluid in the chamber which is dispensed through bore openings from the chamber through the surface of the eye body. Liquid may be inserted directly into the cavity through the bore opening while the prosthesis is in place. The prosthesis may also include a dispensing ball or depressible button to dispense fluid from the prosthesis.

Abstract: A cardiac valve comprises a ring, one or more flaps, the pivoting axis of the latter including two balls partly extending into a ring cavity and a conical flap cavity. This arrangement improves the life of the valve by reducing wear, stresses, friction and facilitates the assembly thereof if the ring is constituted by two concentric members and if the ring cavity extends on either side of the inner member. The invention more particularly applies to artificial valves installed in the heart in place of defective natural valves.

Abstract: A prosthetic ligament implant is sheathed at one end in the sock in order to facilitate pulling of the implant through a hole drilled in a bone. The sock is provided with a separable proximal portion which does not envelope the implant and which can be cut off after pulling of the implant through the hole in the bone. With removal of the proximal portion, the remaining textile structure of the sock becomes asunder so that the sock can be readily pulled off from the end of the implant.

Abstract: A method of making an intraocular lens including providing a fixation member having a proximal end portion with the proximal end portion including an elongated filament, converting a region of said filament at said proximal end portion from a first configuration into an enlargement having a rounded surface and attaching an optic about the proximal end portion of the fixation member to attach the fixation member to the optic.

Abstract: A prosthetic hip stem implant and torque wrench adapter. The hip stem includes an extraction bore formed through its body and a plurality of recessions formed in the body upper surface. A lip extends outwardly of the body and including alignment indicia for visually aligning the implant during seating. The torque wrench adapter includes a movable arm which is accommodated in the extraction bore of the implant. A pair of protrusions extending downwardly from the adaptor head to engage the implants' recesses. An adjustment screw shifts the arm toward the protrusions to clamp the adapter to the implant.